by: Rebecca McKinnon
Series: Octavia Fields
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Octavia Fields should know better than to judge things by their appearance. After all, most people don’t expect a nomadic hippie to be a classical violist—let alone one who runs a seasonal music shop at Aerie Pines, the summer home of the Aerie Peaks Symphony.
But when her business season starts off on the wrong note, it’s obviously the persnickety concertmaster’s fault. If he hadn’t turned up dead—leaving Octavia to find his body— she wouldn’t have to deal with the handsome detective who isn’t sure what to think of her impressive arrest record.
With symphony members cornering Octavia to pass on “evidence” by way of sotto-voce rumors, it shouldn’t surprise her to learn the helpful musicians aren’t the only ones who believe Octavia’s helping with the investigation. When a threatening letter arrives, it’s clear the killer thinks she’s playing harmony to the detective, too.
When the detective doesn’t appear to be making progress on the case, Octavia decides it’s up to her to solve the mystery—before the killer hears their cue to silence her!
Good morning! I’m so excited to be visiting today!
I’m happy to hear that. Before we get started, can you please introduce yourself to readers?
I’m what you’d probably call a nomad. Hippie? Something like that. I spend most of the year traveling, having adventures, going to protests, that kind of thing. But in the summer I go to Aerie Pines, the summer home of the Aerie Peaks Symphony, to run my seasonal violin shop and catch up with my musician friends. See, I used to play in the symphony before I headed out on the road.
But I suppose you want to know the “normal” things about me. I’m thirty-five years old and as single as the day is long. Mainly because I just got out of a relationship.
Can you please tell us about some of the people we’ll meet in your story?
You’re going to love my best friend, Piper. Everyone does! She always knows what’s going on with people—well, she’s a gossip, so you’d expect that. And she likes to flirt almost as much as she adores her husband. And, since Piper loves love, she’s determined that everyone should have it.
You’ll meet the people who work in my shop, and some of the symphony members and other staff that work at Aerie Pines.
I’m guessing, though, that what you really want is to get to know the detectives. Piper would tell you to focus on the lead detective, but that’s because she thinks I should be flirting with him. But guys like him—no, not the handsome part, the law enforcement part—don’t go for girls like me who have pretty solid arrest records.
You have a solid arrest record. Interesting. And yeah. I’m a romance girl, I was really hoping you would talk about the lead detective. I mean if he’s single. Tell me about a defining moment in your life.
I got fired from the symphony, despite the fact that I’m actually quite a good violist. But the board decided that it doesn’t really matter what kind of a musician you are if you have a flexible relationship with time. All they care about is having people show up to rehearsal on time.
Lol. A “flexible relationship with time”. That’s an interesting way to say it. Sorry. Carry on.
But my getting fired was meant to be. It allowed me to hook up my tiny house on wheels to the back of my hippie van and head out into the world where time doesn’t count, I can have adventures when I want them, and it doesn’t matter if I get arrested every now and then.
No disrespect. But you sound like a handful. What’s your most prized possession?
You might think it’s my little house or even my van. I love them both. But I don’t think I could live without my viola. Making music is like breathing. It settles me even more than my meditation or yoga ever could.
What’s something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
I come from a really … conservative family would be the best way to put it, I guess. My parents can’t understand why I don’t get a 9-5 job. Or why I won’t buy a house I can turn into a symbol of wealth, or importance, or stability. Or how I can go barefoot all the time.
Why do you feel the need to put on your sleuthing hat and investigate murders?
I didn’t set out to investigate. It just sort of fell into my lap. And, honestly, when the detectives didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, who was I to ignore the information Fate kept sending my way?
Right. When you aren’t investigating murders, what do you like to do?
You already know I live on the road. Exploring new places is one of my favorite things to do. I also attend a lot of protests, because the world won’t change unless we change it.
What do you think about your creator Rebecca McKinnon?
Rebecca and I are kindred spirits, you know? Even though her life is more mainstream than mine, and she’s never been arrested or anything. Maybe one day I’ll convince her to visit me on the road. Because at our cores, under all the trappings, we’re the same. Adventurers at heart.
What’s next for you?
I’m going to spend the rest of the summer at Aerie Pines taking care of my shop and catching up with friends. I have a few protests to go to. After the concert season ends, I’ll head back out on the road until next summer.
Octavia, thank you so much for your time.
Thanks so much for having me. Maybe we can hang out again sometime!
I would really love that.
Purchase Murder to My Ears from:
(Affiliate Links Used)
Places to find Rebecca McKinnon:
You can follow Murder to My Ears Blog Tour here.
Thank you so much for letting Octavia stop by! She and I both had a great time.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Rebecca.
DeleteSounds like a book I would enjoy reading. On my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI love mystery/murder books!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.